Interview: Tamsin Carroll On CASA VALENTINA, CHITTY Tour And More!

Harvey Fierstein's Casa Valentina has been critically acclaimed; in a cross-dressing colony a group of men leave their families, friends and city jobs behind to safely inhabit their female alter egos and release their inner woman. However, when given the choice to share their secret lives with the world, the group have to decide whether the freedom gained by the openness is worth the personal risk. Based on real-life events, this delightfully insightful and hilariously entertaining piece gives us a glimpse in to the life of these "self-made women" as they search for acceptance and happiness in a high heel.

Tamsin Carroll - known for her West End roles in Oliver! and Miss Saigon - plays Rita...

Hi Tamsin, thanks for speaking to us. Tell us a bit about the play you're in, Casa Valentina.

It's a gem. It's topical but historical, and not perhaps what people expect - and it's by Harvey Fierstein, who's very busy at the moment [with the West End opening of Kinky Boots as well]/

What's Harvey like?

He's adorable, a sweet man, talented and articulate, charming and warm. Sometimes meeting your heroes doesn't meet up to your expectations, but this did - it was one of those moments. He's fascinating, and the play is fascinating, with all the research he did and the care he took over writing it. It's incredible.

Your character in this play is probably the least showy in the cast...

It's the first play I've done where I've had to put make-up on to leave the theatre! That's fine by me. It's been so entertaining to listen to the men talking about how they're going to remove their body hair; they're taking it so seriously and want to get it right. I think they've got a bit of an insight into what it so often takes for a woman to present herself.

How much did you have to research your character?

There's not a great deal known about her. There's a wonderful book about the actual place the play is based on, with a collection of photographs - actual historical evidence of this retreat, a fascinating documentation of these men look beautiful - and we have some of those pictures scattered around the theatre.

And you're going on to Chitty Chitty Bang Bang after this...

Yes, at the West Yorkshire Playhouse, I can't wait. It's a fantastic cast and creative team, it'll be great fun.

Casa Valentina runs at the Southwark Playhouse until 10th October.

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